Faculty takes 'no confidence' vote in UNH president

Wednesday

Apr 27, 2011 at 3:15 AM

By RONI REINOrreino@fosters.com

DURHAM — University faculty is currently conducting a "no-confidence" vote in President Mark Huddleston after the administrator said classes were conducted by a "sage on a stage" and indicated students held no loyalty to the school after graduation, according to union leaders.

On April 18, Huddleston testified before the state Senate Finance Committee on behalf of the University of New Hampshire's budget. Leaders and students from the University System of New Hampshire also spoke at the Statehouse hearing.

Last week, executive committee members of the University of New Hampshire chapter of the American Association of University Professors (AAUP) voted 5-2 in favor of holding the "no-confidence" vote. Leaders cited Huddleston's focus on business models as part of the reason.

"Everything he mentions in the leading comments are about how wonderful we are in generating capital for the state," said Deanna Wood, president of AAUP-UNH chapter. "He doesn't say anything about what we are teaching people."

Testimony from Huddleston states each year UNH-educated students contribute $562 million to the New Hampshire workforce and the university itself adds $1.3 billion to the New Hampshire economy.

Wood said the "no confidence" vote comes at a critical time, as the union and university administration are currently conducting contract negotiations. Recently, the USNH board of trustees rejected a fact-finding report where the AAUP had proposed a 12.5 percent increase over three years, with 1 percent of that being merit pay.

The university had proposed a 6.5 percent increase over the same period, with 4 percent merit pay.

Chapter members, totaling a little more than 400, voted Tuesday and will complete their voting today, either by e-mail or a written vote at Dimond Library. If passed, the vote would signal a lack of confidence in Huddleston by the faculty, but would have no official impact.

"What it would mean for us is that we would get the president's attention," Wood said. "That he needs to be more aware of what is going on on campus, and he needs to pay attention to faculty."

Members have also stated Huddleston's comments put down faculty and students.

In a statement to the university community Tuesday morning, Huddleston said his comments were not new.

"I talked, as I always do, about our Strategic Plan, a farsighted document that is dedicated to preserving the core values — academic freedom, commitment to the pursuit of knowledge, quality, integrity, community and diversity, accountability, and engagement — articulated in the existing Academic Plan," he wrote.

He countered comments about his testimony, writing he was contrasting traditionally characterized American higher education, with its "rigid academic calendar, traditional lecture-based pedagogy, and seat-time-based credentialing," to the future of modern education.

"The essence of my argument was: UNH is a superb institution, one in the forefront of efforts to ensure access and affordability," he wrote. "Please reject the drastic and injurious cuts proposed by the House and let us get on with our important work."

Ed Dupont, chair of the USNH, also provided a statement, saying that while the USNH is facing cuts in state funding, it is important to address the state's fiscal crisis.

"President Huddleston has been a strong advocate for the UNH faculty and their critical role in accomplishing the university's teaching, research and engagement missions, which is evident in the inclusive process he insisted on in developing a 10-year strategic plan for the institution," he said.

State Sen. Lou D'Allesandro, D-Manchester, who is a member of the Senate Finance Committee, also provided support for Huddleston, saying the remarks were "mischaracterized" and "misunderstood."

"As a member of that committee and as a graduate of UNH, I can tell you that he made a compelling case on behalf of the University," he wrote in a statement. "What he tried to indicate is that everyone recognizes the difficulty we face with this budget while still conveying that the drastic cuts proposed by the House will jeopardize the ongoing progress UNH is making."

Members of the AAUP-UNH leadership said they believe D'Allesandro was "misinformed," adding Huddleston's testimony insulted the students, programs and faculty of the university.

David Richman, theater professor at UNH and a member at large on the AAUP-UNH, said he feels Huddleston's testimony was an added hit to the faculty.

"The Concord testimony is the capstone, if you will," Richman said. "It makes explicit the contempt implicit in the positions the university is taking in negotiation. Reading this testimony, I conclude that the president has contempt for and ignorance of the fundamental enterprise of teaching and learning that must be at the heart of the university."

However, some union members have said the vote is too soon and a drastic measure put forward by the AAUP-UNH.

Anthony Tenczar, an associate professor at UNH Manchester, said the vote was too soon and Huddleston's remarks, which he admits may have offended some, did not warrant a "no-confidence vote."

"It's a 'nuclear option'," he said. "A last resort. It's not going to help the relationship between faculty and the administration."

Tenczar said the vote is happening at the wrong time, especially with pending contract negotiations.

"I don't support the vote because it should have never happened in this rushed fashion," he said. "Because it happened in this rushed fashion and there hasn't been deliberation, it diminishes the outcome of the vote."

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